Air mixing and diffusing outlet having a concentric open ended tube for mixing room air with the incoming ventilating air stream



P 1, 1947- F. J. KURTH ETAL- 2,418,265

AIR HIKING AND DIFFUSING OUTLET HAVING A CONCENTRIC OPEN ENDED TUBE FOR HIKING ROO- AIR WITH THE INCOIING VENTILATING KIR STREAI Filed Aug. 16, 1943 Patented Apr. 1, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Franz J. Kurth and Friedrich Honerkamp, New

York, N. Y., assignors to Anemostat Corporation of America, New

of Delaware York, N. Y., a corporation Application August 16, 1943, Serial No. 498,843

1 claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for supplying fresh or treated, heated or cooled air to enclosures for heating, cooling, ventilating or other purposes, and has particular reference to im-' Where there is a temperature differential between the air within an enclosure and the air supplied thereto, it usually is desirable to effect mixing of as much as possible of the enclosure air with as much as possible of the supplied air, as thoroughly as possible, at or in the immediate vicinity of the point of delivery of the supplied air into the enclosurefor the purpose of immediately tempering the supplied air with the enclosure air and thereby reducing the possibility of occupants of the enclosure experiencing any sensation of blast, draft or other discomfort. And, of course, the greater the temperature differential between theenclosure air and the supplied air, the more important and desirable such mixing becomes, especially in connection with small enclosures such, for example, as aircraft cabins.

Accordingly, one special and important object of the invention is to provide, in combination with an air supply duct having outlet means for'discharge of air therefrom into an enclosure, a simple means whereby discharge of a r fromthe duct through said outlet means effects rapid and thorough'mixing of a large amount of the enclosure air with a large amount of the supplied air in the immediate vicinity of the point of discharge of the supplied air from the duct into the enclosure, either for the purpose stated or for any other desired purpose.

At times it may be desirable to supply heated air and at other times it may be desirable to supply cooled air through a given duct to an enclosure, and in either case it may be desirable atcertain times to deliver all of the air from the duct in columnar or undiffused form, at other times in outwardly deflected diffused form, and at still other times partly in columnar or undiffused form and partly in outwardly deflected diffused form. Accordingly, another special and important object of the invention is to provide simple, practical control means whereby fiow of air from the duct in any of said forms may readily and easily be obtained. Moreover, a further special and important object of the inventionin this connection is to combine said air flow control means with the aforesaid air mixing means so that regulation of air flow from the duct regulates the amounts of the supplied air and the enclosure air which are intermixed.

with the foregoing and other objects in view, which will become more fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel combination and arrangement of elements as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views:

Figure 1 is a central, longitudinal. section through a portion of an air supply duct and an associated air outlet control means constructed in accordance w th one practical embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates 'an air supply duct having in a portion 10 of a wall I i thereof an annular row of openings l2 constituting outlet means for discharge of air from said duct into an enclosure for heating, cooling, ventilating or other purposes, and B designates. generally, a unit, of which the duct wall portion In is a part, operatively mounted relative to said duct to control discharge of air therefrom through the openings l2 and under certain conditions. to cause the discharged air to effect intermixture therewith of a considerable amount of the enclosure air for the purpose of tempering the supplied air as it is delivered into the enclosure.

The portion ID of the duct wall I I might be an integral part of said wall. Inasmuch, however, as said portion In or i s equiva ent a so constitutes an essen ial part of the unit B, and inasmuch as it is desirable that said unit be complete in itself for association with any duct, it is preferred to form said wall portion in as a part of the unit 13 rather than as an integral part of a wall of the duct so that said unit may be 'completein itself and may be operatively associated with any duct simp y by cutting an opening in a wa l oi the latter and by suitably fastening the wall portion Hi to the duct wall in covering relationship to the opening therein. It will be understood, therefore, that .even though the wall portion ill may be a part of the unit B, it is in effect a part of the duct wall I I when it is operativ'ely fastened thereto.

In the drawings the duct A is presumed to be located at or near the top of an enclosure andis illustrated as being disposed horizontally and as having the outlet openings l2 in the bottom wall thereof for discharge of air downwardly therehowever, that said duct may be disposed vertically or inany other desired manner and that, regard-.

less of its disposition, any wall thereof may be provided with any suitable outlet means for discharge of air therefrom in any desired direction into an enclosure at any desired point with respect to the enclosure.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, an open-ended tube I3 has one end I 3 theremediate vicinity of the openings I2 with the supplied air delivered from the duct through said openings and immediately tempers the supplied air so that its temperatureis brought more nearly to the temperature of the enclosure air before it has progressed far into the enclosure, thereby either eliminating entirely or at least materially reducing the possibility of occupants of the enclosure experiencin any sensation of blast or draft due to the temperature differential between the enclosure air and the supplied air.

The relative amounts of the supplied air and the enclosure air that become intermixed depends, of I course, upon the relative sizes or cross sectional areas of the openings I2 and the tube I 3, upon the velocity of the supplied air delivered through the openings I2 and upon otherfactors, and in this connection it will be understood, of course, that the openings I2 and the tube I 3 may be of any desired sizes or cross sectional areas for flow therethrough and intermixing of any desired relative amounts of the supplied air and the enclosure air.

In the particular exampl of the invention 11- lustrated in the drawings, the tube I3 is disposed inwardly of and centrally with respect to the annular row of openings l2 and extends through the duct A and has its inlet end I3 disosed adjacent to the top of said duct and its discharge end I3 disposed a short distance below the bottom wall I I of said duct. Obviously, however. said tube I3 may be disposed other than centrally with respect to the row of openings I2 and its inlet end I3 may be disposed at any other suitable point. Essentially, however, the outlet end I3 of said tube faces in the same general direction as the direction of discharge of air from the duct A through the openings I2 and'is disposed in such proximate relationship to said openings I2 that air flowing from the duct through said openings induces an effective flow of enclosure air through said tube.

In the broader aspects of the invention the means for outlet of air from the duct A may comprise either an annular row of openings I2, as shown, or simply a single opening through or in close proximity to which the discharge end portion I3 of the tube l3 extends. It is desirable,however, to provide valve means for regulating flow of air from the duct A, and inasmuch as a valve of the apertured disk type is preferred for this purpose,

' 'an annular row of openings I2 is provided in lieu of a single opening for cooperation with such a valve.

The row of openings I2 or their equivalent provide for discharge of air from the duct A in columnar or undiifused form around the'discharged end of the tube I3 to induce a flow of enclosure air throughsaidtube, and whenever air is flowing from the duct through said openings l2 of their equivalent it induces a flow of enclosure air through said tube which, in amount, is dependent upon the amount'andthe velocity of the air flowing through said openings I2 or their equivalent. Thus, for any given velocity of the duct air and a tube 53 of any given cross sectional area, it is manifest that, by varying the'effective area of the openings I2 or their equivalent, the amount of the supplied air that is delivered into the enclosure and, consequently, the amount of enclosure air that is drawn through the tube 03 and intermixed with the supplied air and delivered into the enclosure therewith, also is varied. In this connection and as aforesaid, it may be desirable at times either to deny completely or to a greater or lesser extent columnar discharge of air through the openings i2 or their equivalent and to effect discharge of air from the duct through another opening or openings in diffused form. For example, when heated air is supplied through the duct A it usually is desirable to have all or most of this air discharged from the duct through the openings I2 or their equivalent to insure the mixing therewith of a large amount of the enclosure air to rapidly reduce the temperature of the supplied air as it is delivered into the en closure. On the other hand, when cooled air is supplied through the duct A, it usually is more desirable to-have all or a major amount of this air delivered into the enclosure in diffused form rather than columnar form, even though this should mean complete or partial loss of the i lent is disposed a flared air deflector ring l5 so that air delivered through said openings I4- or their" equivalent is deflected by said ring laterally outwardand thereby is delivered into the enclosure in diffused form. Moreover, valve means is provided for completely closing or for varying the effective areas of the openings I lor their equivalent to regulate the amount of air delivered therethrough, and in this connection it is preferred to employ asingle valve of the apertured disk type to regulate flow of air through both rows of the openings I2 and M, although a separate valves individual to said rowsof openings or their equivalents may be employed if desired.

In the example of the invention illustrated in 4 the drawings a single valve of the apertured disk type, designated as I6, is employed to regu-. late flow of air from the duct A through both rows of the openings I2 and IQ, and this valve is rotatably mounted upon the wall portion II! by being marginally confined between said well portion and the inner marginal portion of a ring I I which is riveted or otherwise suitably fastened to said wall portion In and which constitutes a flange through the instrumentality of which the unit B may readily be fastened to the duct A in operative relationship thereto with the wall portion I0 covering an opening I8 cut in the wall I I of said duct.

The valve disk l6 may be mounted in any other suitable manner either above or below that portion of the wall portion Hi. In any event, said valve disk is provided with two annular rows of openings I 9 and 20 which are counterparts of the two rows of openings l2 and M, respectively.

Between the openings I 2 are closed wall portions 2| of approximately'the same size and shape as said openings l2, while between the openings M are closed wall portions 22' of approximately the same size and shape as said openings l4. Likewise, between the openings I 9 are closed valve disk portions 23 of approximately the. same size and shape as said openings l9, while be tween the openings 20 are other closed valve disk portions 24 of approximately the same size and shape as said openings 20. Moreover, the

openings I2, M are radially alined and the openings l9 and 20 are radially disalined, or viceversa, as may be desired.

Accordingly, if the valve disk 16 is rotated to a position to fully register its openings IS with the openings l2, its openings 20 are fully closed by the closed wall portions 22 and, at the same time, the openings l4 are fully closed by the closed portions 24 of said valve disk. Therefore, all air will be directed from the duct through the openings l2. If, on the other hand, the valve disk is rotated to a position to fully register its openings 20 with the openings l4, its openings iii are fully closed by the closed wall portions 2| and, at the same time, the wall openings l2 are fully closed by the closed portions 23 of said valve disk. Therefore, all air will be directed from the duct through the openings l4. Obviously, in any intermediate position of rotation of the valve disk, both rows of the openings l2,

, I 4 will be partly open for flow of air therethrough from the duct, the greater the eifective area of the openings of either of said rows the lesser the efiective area of the openings of the other of said rows. It follows, therefore, that merely by a small amount of angular adjustment of the valve disk l6, all of the .air from the duct A may be required to flow through the openings l2 to induce flow of a maximum, am unt oi. enclosure air through the tube l3, or all of the air from the duct may be required to flow through the openings M for outward deflection and diffusion by the ring [5, or any desired relative amounts of the air from the duct maybe directed through the respective openings [2 and I4, some to induce a certain amount of flow of enclosure air through the tube l3 and the remainder to be deflected and diffused by the ring l5.

In the example of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the air deflector ring I5 is spaced from the wall portion l so that when the openings H are closed and air is being discharged from the duct through the openings I 2, an inward or aspirating flow of the enclosure air is induced through the space between said deflector ring l and said wall portion III, which materially assists in obtaining rapid and thorough intermixing of the enclosure air with the supplied air in the immediate vicinity of the point of discharge of the supplied air. In this connection, a neck or funnel-like member 25 may be employed, if desired, to direct air from the openings l2 toward the discharge end of the tube l3, and a neck or ring 26 may extend forwardly from the inner edge of the ring I! to assist in inducing a flow of enclosure air through the the same general direction space between the ring I! and the wall portion l0 when all or most of the supplied air is flowing through the openings l2. On the other hand, when air is being'discharged through the openings H a reverse-direction aspirating flow of air will be induced through the ring 26. s

It has been found that by varying the position of the discharge end l3 of the tube l3 longitudinally relative to the openings 12 or their equivalent in the absence or the funnel-like member 25, or longitudinally relative to said funnel-like member if same or its equivalent is used, the amount of air flow that will be induced through the tube l3 may be varied. Accordingly, in order to provide for w the position of the discharge end l3 of the tube l3, the discharge end portion i3 of said tube is formed as an element separate from said tube proper and is suitably mounted thereon for longitudinal adjustment with respect'thereto, as, for example, through the instrumentality of pins 21 carried by said element l3 and disposed in inclined slots 28 in the tube proper.

Within the duct A a suitable air deflector element 29, or any'desired plurality of such elements, may be provided for directing the supplied air toward and through the openings l2, while in order to prevent supplied air delivered through the openings H from too quickly flowing outwardly after passing through said openings, the marginal portion III'- of the wall portion l0 may be directed forwardly any desired distance desired form. Moreover, the tube I2 may be provided, if desired, with a suitable damper to regulate flow of air therethrough regardless of adjustments of the valve disk l6.

Any suitable means may be provided for rotatably adjusting the valve disk IS, a handle 22 carried by said disk and extending through a slot 3| in the deflector ring 15 for ready access at the front of the device, being illustrated in the present instance for this purpose.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction maybe resorted to. without d-epartmeans for intermixture with and to temper the air discharged from the duct through said outlet means, the outlet end of said tube facing in as the direction of discharge of air from said duct through said outlet means and being disposed in such proximity to said outlet means that'air flowing through said outlet means from said duct induces a flow of the enclosure air through said tube said tube including a short length discharge end portion longitudinally adjustable, relative to the other portion thereof to vary the position of the-discharge end of said tube longitudinally relative to said outlet means, said short-length portion of said tube being spaced a constant distance inwardly from the outer side of said outlet means.

2. In combination, an air supply duct having air outlet opening means for discharge of air longitudinally adjusting inany.

with and to temper 7 therefrom into an enclosure, a tube for conducting air from the enclosure to a point in proximity to said outlet opening means for intermixture the air discharged from the duct through said outlet opening means, the

outlet end of said tube facing in the same general direction as the direction of discharge of air from said duct through said outlet opening means and being disposed in such proximity to said outlet opening means that air flowing-through said outlet opening means duces a flow of the.enclosure air through said from said duct intube, said duct having a second air outlet opening means disposed outwardly of said first mentioned air outlet opening means, means whereby air flowing from said duct through said second mentioned air outlet opening means is deflected laterally outward from said second mentioned air outlet opening means, and means for selectively closing said flrst and said second mentioned air outlet means against flow of air therethrough imity thereto and from said duct.

3. In combination, an air supply duct having outlet means for discharge'of air therefrom into an enclosure, a tube for conducting air from the enclosure to a point in proximity to said outlet means for intermixture with and to temper the air discharged from the duct through said outlet means, the outlet end of said tube facing in the same general direction as the direction of discharge of air from said duct through said outlet means and being disposed in such proximity to said outlet means that air flowing through said outlet means from said duct induces a flow of the enclosure air through said tube, said duct having a second air outlet means disposed outwardly of said first mentioned .air outlet means, means whereby air flowing from said duct ,through said second mentioned air outlet means is deflected laterally outward from said second mentioned air outlet means, and a single element operable to simultaneously decrease the effective area of one and to increase the effective area of the other of said air outlet means.

4. In combination, an air supply duct having inner and outer concentric rows of spaced apart closed portions and openings therebetween for outlet of air from said duct, an open-ended tube having one end in receiving relationship to air exteriorly of said duct and its other enddisposed inwardly with respect to the inner row of said. closed portions and openings and in proxfacing in the same direction discharge of air from said of openings whereas the direction of duct through said inner row by air flowing from said duct through said inner row of openings induces a flow of air from the exterior of said duct through said tube for intermixture with the air discharged from said duct through said inner row I of openings, means whereby air flowing from said duct through said outer-row of openings is deflected laterally out- .wardly from said'outcr row or openings, and a rotatable disk valve having inner and outer annular rows of spaced apart closed portions and openings therebetween and disposed for cooperation with the inner and outer rows of spaced the other inner row ar radially alined with the *directlonjserves to decrease the effective areas ofthe openings of one pair of corresponding rows and simultaneously to increase the efiective areas of the openings of the other pair of correspondins rows.

6. In combination, an air supply duct havin inner and outer concentric rows of spaced apart closed portions and openings therebetween for outlet of air from said duct, an open-ended tube having one end in receiving relationship to air exteriorly of said duct and its other end disposed inwardly with respect to the inner row of said closed portions and openings and in proximity thereto and facing in the same direction asithe direction of discharge of air from said duct through said inner row of openings whereby air flowing from said duct through said inner row of openings induces a flow of air from the exterior of said duct through said tube for intermixture with the air discharged from said duct through said inner row of openings, means whereby air flowing from said duct through said outer row of openings is deflected laterally outwardly from said outer row of openings, and a single rotatable valve element operable by rotation thereof to close the openings of either of said rows to the exclusion of the openings of the other of said rows. 7

7. In combination, an air supplyduct having inner and outer concentric rows of spaced'apart closed portions and openings therebetween for outlet of air from said duct, an open-ended tube having one end in receiving relationship to air exteriorly of said duct and its other end disposed inwardly with respect to the inner row of said closed portions and openings and in proximity apart closed portions and openings of said duct,

respectively, to selectively close either of said rows of openings completely or to only partly close both of said rows of openings.

5. The combination as set'forth in claim 4 in which the openings of one of the inner rows are radially disalined from the openings of the related outer row and in which the openings of thereto and facing in the same direction as the direction of discharge of air from said duct through said inner row of openings whereby air flowing from said duct through said inner row of openings induces a flow of air from the exterior of said duct through said tube for intermixture with the air discharged from said duct through said inner row of openings, means to direct air. flowing from said duct through said inner row of openings toward the-outlet end of said tube, means to direct laterally outward from the outer row of openings air flowing therethrough from said duct, and a rotatable apertured disk valve operable by rotation thereof to close the openings of either rowto the exclusion of the openings of the other row.

8. In combination, an air supply duct having inner and outer concentric rows of spaced apart closed,portions and openings therebetween for outlet pf, air to said duct, an open-ended tube orie in receiving relationship to air ex'teri "st bf sa posed inwardly with respect to the inner row of said closed portions and openings and in proximity thereto and facing in the same direction as the direction of discharge of air from said duct d duct and its other end dissaid necl: in spaced relationship thereto and having its upper end spaced from said duct, 9.

flaring member extending outwardly from said open-ended member to efiect outward deflection of air flowing from said duct through said outer row of openings, and a rotatable apertured disk valve operable by rotation thereof to close the openings of either of said rows to the exclusion of the openings of the other row.

9. In combination, an .air supply-duct having an annular air outlet opening means-for discharge oi air therefrom into an enclosure, an open-ended tube having one end disposed to receive air from the enclosure and its other end disposed inwardly of and concentric with respect to said outlet opening means and in proximity thereto and facing in the same general direction as the direction of discharge of air through said outlet opening means so that air discharged from the duct through said outlet opening means in duces a flow of enclosure air through said tube, said duct havin' a second annular air outlet opening means disposed outwardly of and concentrically with respect to said first outlet means, and means {or controlling flow of air from said duct through each of said outlet opening means.

10. In combination, an air supply duct having 1 an annular air outlet means for discharge of air therefrom into an enclosure, an open-ended tube having one end disposed to receive air from the enclosure and its other end disposed inwardly of charged from the duct through said outlet means induces a flow of enclosure air through, said tube, said duct having a second annular'air outing the effective area of one and decreasing the effective area of the other of said outlet means.

FRANZ J. KURTH.

FRIEDRICH I-IONERKAMP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PA'I'EN'IS Number Name Date 2,027,259 Whltsitt Jan. 7, 1936 2,199,525 Kurth May 7, 1940 2,339,629 Fischer Jan. 18, 1944 2,275,295 Greenway Mar. 3, 1942 2,189,502 Johnston Feb. 6, 1940 2,301,045 Heath Nov. 3, 1942 208,552 Willbu'r Oct. 1, 1878 2,252,264 -Kurth Aug. 12, 1941 2,142,134 Kurth Jan. 3, 1939 511,079 Hooker Dec. 19, 1893 522,815 White July 10, 1894' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 341,460 British Jan. 16, 1931 460,348 French Oct. 3, 1913 14,789 British Oct. 31, 1887 British 1909 

